THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS ENGAGED MAKURDI NORTH COMMUNITY-BASED CHILD PROTECTION STRUCTURES (CBCPS) IN A 3-DAYS TRAINING 9TH -13TH MARCH, 2026
Paul Akunda & Fidelis Alumuku | Makurdi
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare (MWASW) continues to strengthen community-level mechanisms for the protection of Benue children through capacity-building initiatives and strategic partnerships. As part of these efforts, the Ministry organized a 3-day Community-Based Child Protection Structures (CBCPS) training for community child protection volunteers across selected communities in the Makurdi North Bank axis.
The training, which is supported by UNICEF and implemented by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in collaboration with JASPI, aims to equip community volunteers with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, prevent, and respond effectively to child protection concerns within their communities. The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader commitment to promoting the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children.
Participants Selection:
Participants were drawn from
1. Traditional institution
2. Youth leader ( male)
3. Youth leader (female)
4. Security
5. Health practitioner
6. Teacher
7. Women leader
8. Community development association Reps
9. Religious representative
10. Proposed Auxiliary Social Workers
Training Activities and Participation
The training was conducted across five clusters within the Makurdi North Bank axis, with each cluster consisting of five communities. A total of fifty (50) participants were selected per cluster, with ten (10) representatives drawn from each community. These participants included community volunteers who play a vital role in identifying and responding to child protection issues at the grassroots level.
The sessions focused on key topics such as the concept of child protection, understanding common child protection concerns within communities, case management procedures, and the role of community volunteers as agents of the Ministry in safeguarding children. Facilitators engaged participants through interactive discussions, practical examples, and group activities designed to enhance their understanding and build their confidence in handling child protection cases.
Monitoring and Support Visit
During the training, officials from the Ministry conducted a visit to the five cluster communities to monitor the progress of the programme and ensure that the training activities were being carried out effectively.
Those present for the supervision and support the training included the Director, Child Development Mrs. Janet Daagba who also represented the Honourable Commissioner Hon. Mrs. Theresa Odachi Ikwue. Also on the ministry supervision team Comr. Paul Akunda, Data Management Officer (DMO), Jennifer Makir, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Child Department and Grace Tyosar, ministry’s Radio Benue Chief correspondence
Their presence demonstrated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the success of the programme and reinforcing the importance of community participation in child protection efforts.
Observations and Outcomes
It was observed during the training sessions that participants were highly engaged and actively interacted with the facilitators. The sessions created an opportunity for participants to share experiences from their communities while gaining practical knowledge on how to address child protection concerns.
Participants demonstrated a clearer understanding of the concept of child protection and the importance of safeguarding children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. They were also introduced to the principles of case management and the appropriate procedures for reporting and responding to child protection cases.
By the end of the sessions, participants expressed confidence in their roles as community child protection volunteers and acknowledged their responsibility as agents of the Ministry in promoting and protecting the rights of children within their communities.
The Community-Based Child Protection Structures (CBCPS) training represents an important step toward strengthening grassroots systems for protecting children in the Makurdi North Bank axis. Through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, UNICEF, and JASPI, community volunteers are being empowered with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and respond to child protection issues effectively.
The positive participation and enthusiasm observed during the training highlight the readiness of community members to support child protection initiatives. Continued support, monitoring, and capacity-building efforts will further strengthen these structures and ensure sustainable protection mechanisms for children across the participating communities.
